A California artist is putting her joyful touch on the Indianapolis Horizon House which offers the city’s homeless access to everyday needs like showers, laundry and medical services.

“Even when I’m sad I paint happy, because if were to paint a sad painting and then I went back and looked at it, it would remind me of the sad moment," says Inocente Izucar, "so I think it’s kind of like tricking our mind and seeing a happy painting even though you’re feeling sad. So I try to make everything as happy as possible.”

The 23-year old used art to overcome a childhood that included violence and homelessness.

“We lived in many many shelters and unfortunately having art on the shelters wall is not a priority , the priority is to house and feed people," Izucar says. "So it’s really important to kind of bring art because it feels more like home than an institution.”

Izucar’s childhood was documented in the 2013 Oscar-winning film "Inocente." Today she is a successful artist, teacher and activist helping others through art. That includes designing a mural for the Horizon House that clients can paint.

“I did a few rough sketches, and I am going to go home and work a little bit more on a sketch, and they are going to project it on the walls and then paint it," Izucar says. "So it’s kind of like coloring book style. So I’m going to leave it blank and everyone else will be able to color it in and fill it in.”

Izucar painted her signature SUN on one corner of the wall but is thrilled that the rest of the mural will be painted by those using the facility.

Arts & Culture / December 13, 2018

Gabriel Lehman loves to paint murals and in those murals - clouds. Gratitude is also important to him. He donates paintings to charities and loves to paint murals in unusual places, like the nursery of a Church in Noblesville.